Suspect snatched Taser during drunken driving arrest, police say

Derrick Harms, 31, of Satellite Beach was arrested after police say he snatched a Taser from an officer during an attempted arrest for drunken driving.

BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Eric Rogers |
Florida Today |
9:45 pm EDT September 5, 2018

A Satellite Beach man suspected of drunken driving snatched an officer's Taser during a scuffle with police, according to an arrest report.

Derrick Harms, 31, is charged with depriving an officer of means of protection, possession of cocaine, introducing contraband into a detention facility, driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He was released Monday from the Brevard County Jail on $7,000 bond.

At about 1:53 p.m. Saturday, Cocoa Beach police observed Harms enter the driver's seat of his vehicle at the Inner Room Cabaret in Cocoa Beach. Officers noted Harms was stumbling and his eyes were bloodshot, according to reports.

Harms repeatedly refused officers' orders to exit the vehicle, police said. When an officer drew his department-issued Taser, "(Harms) replied, 'I've been Tased before,'" police wrote in a report.

When the officer discharged his Taser, Harms grabbed the weapon and took it from him, reports state. Police subdued the suspect and took him to Cape Canaveral Hospital for medical clearance.

Harms refused to provide a breath sample, police said.

Officers noticed a small, clear plastic bag filled with white power sticking out of Harms' pants during processing. The substance tested positive for cocaine, police said.